A legal notice has been sent to the government seeking necessary action within seven days to permanently stop the export of hilsa to India.
Supreme Court lawyer Mahmudul Hasan sent the notice on Sunday.
The notice was sent to the Commerce secretary, Fisheries and Livestock secretary, Foreign secretary, Civil Aviation and Tourism secretary, chairman of the National Board of Revenue, chief controller of imports and exports, and chairman of Bangladesh Tourism Corporation.
The limited amount of hilsa fish available from the Padma river most often does not show up in the local markets, the notice claims.
"Due to the export of hilsa to India, its price has increased in the local markets of Bangladesh. What is sadder is that hilsa is being exported to India at a lower price than the market price in Bangladesh," it added.
Referring to the fact that most of the hilsa from Padma river ends up being exported to India, the lawyer also said, "In fact, a limited amount of hilsa is available from the Padma river. Therefore, as a result of the export of Padma hilsa to India, Padma hilsa is not available in sufficient quantity in the markets of Bangladesh.
"According to Bangladesh Export Policy-2021-24, Hilsa fish is not a freely exportable product. The Ministry of Commerce has allowed the export of hilsa to India completely unjustly, ignoring the interests of the people."
It was requested in the notice to permanently stop the export of hilsa to India within seven days of receiving the legal notice. Otherwise, a writ will be filed in the High Court to take action in this matter, lawyer Mahmudul Hassan said.
